Kayden
"Stop pacing around!"
That was the umpteenth time Leo had shouted that in the last ten minutes, but I couldn’t stop.
My legs moved on autopilot, back and forth across the plush floor of the waiting room. My hands were shaking, my mind completely consumed by a hundred different thoughts—mostly drifting back to Rhys and wondering how he was feeling right now.
Is he as excited about this wedding as I am? Is he nervous, too?
"Oh, goodness! Stop pacing around for goodness’ sake, Kayden!" Leo groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "It’s just a wedding! A wedding!"
I stopped in my tracks and rolled my eyes at him, holding back a faint smile as I remembered his own special day. "You are one to talk, Leo. I distinctly remember you shaking like an autumn leaf during your own wedding with Miller, and yet here you are giving advice as if you were the picture of calm!"
"That is because mine was fast-paced!" Leo fired back defensively, crossing his arms. "It was sprung on us with only a few days to prepare! We had no time to process, unlike yours, which has been in the works since he proposed months ago. See the structural difference in the timeline? I know wedding jitters are statistically common, but trust me, Rhys will be standing at the end of that altar waiting for you. That is the absolute last thing on earth you should be worried about."
I sighed softly, turning back to face the full-length vanity mirror.
I was wearing a suit that mirrored Rhys’s—a deep, rich burgundy tuxedo crafted from the finest tailored fabric—but customized with soft, romantic details. The cut flowed comfortably over my frame, accommodating my bump perfectly without losing an inch of its sharp, elegant silhouette.
A delicate silver brooch pinned near my lapel caught the light, and my hair had been styled into loose, soft curls that framed my face. I looked completely transformed, but as I rested a gentle hand over my bump, rubbing it through the smooth fabric of my jacket, the flutter in my stomach wouldn’t settle.
"I’m actually scared of so many things, Leo," I admitted softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "What if..."
"There is no ’what if,’ son," Rhoda’s warm, commanding voice cut through the air as she stepped into the room, flanked by Gabriella and Soren.
"Rhoda is right," Soren added gently, walking up to stand beside me. "This is everything you’ve ever wanted, Kayden. So why on earth are you afraid to go after it now? What is scaring you so much that it’s making you second-guess your own wedding—the one you literally would not stop talking about all night?"
I kept my hand resting against my bump, taking a deep, steadying breath. "I just feel like... like everything is happening so fast. And I met Rhys’s father a little while ago, right before you guys came in."
Rhoda groaned loudly, stepping closer to grab my trembling hands in hers. "What did that annoying man do? Did he threaten you? Did he say something to you?!"
"I swear, I am going to strangle him if he did anything to set you off!" Leo chimed in, leaping up from the couch with a dramatic hand gesture. "I thought Rhys had that man on a tight leash! What does he want from you now? Why is he even here?!"
A genuine chuckle escaped my lips at Leo’s immediate, protective outburst, and I shook my head.
"And why are you laughing?!" Leo yelped playfully, glaring at me with narrow eyes. "You are so annoying!"
"Calm down, you hot-headed doctor," I laughed softly. "Richard didn’t show an ounce of hostility when he came in here. He just... he came to apologize for everything he did in the past."
Leo scoffed, folding his arms tightly over his chest. "That’s a little too late, don’t you think? It’s completely performative! Why else would he show up right on your wedding day? What does he even have to do with your happiness? He shouldn’t be here."
"Calm down, Leo. I’m sure Kayden had a reason for talking to him, so let’s just listen," Soren reasoned smoothly, placing a hand on Leo’s shoulder before turning back to me. "Did Richard say something that put doubts in your mind, Kayden?"
I let out a heavy sigh, gently rubbing my hands together. "It wasn’t like that. Richard came to apologize, and he actually thanked me for bringing out the best in Rhys. He told me that I made Rhys a better version of himself, and that he was genuinely glad we were getting married. But..."
"But?" Leo asked instantly, hovering as if waiting for a single piece of bad news. "What else did he say after that?"
"Leo, please, just let him talk," Rhoda scolded gently, rolling her eyes.
Leo huffed, marching back over to the couch and dramatically sinking onto the cushions. "I’m just trying to protect my best friend," he muttered under his breath.
Gabriella and Rhoda let out synchronized sighs at his drama, while I smiled weakly. They turned their full attention back to me, their eyes filled with maternal warmth.
"So back to you, sweet boy," Gabriella said softly, taking my other hand. "What else did Richard say that brought these heavy thoughts to your head?"
"He said... he said he was placing Rhys in my hands," I murmured, staring down at my shoes. "He said he hopes we cherish each other forever."
"Well, that sounds wonderful," Soren noted gently. "Doesn’t that mean he wishes you both the absolute best?"
I nodded slowly.
"So you feel pressured now, don’t you? You feel like you have to be absolutely perfect for Rhys," Rhoda said softly, cutting straight to the core of what I was feeling.
I gave a quiet nod, letting my shoulders drop.
"Listen to me, son," Rhoda continued, her thumb gently stroking the back of my hand. "Marriage isn’t a continuous fairy tale where every single day is easy. I know how deeply you love Rhys, but there will be days when things get hard. There will be misunderstandings, fatigue, and sharp words. Don’t carry the weight of needing to be perfect, because perfection doesn’t exist. What matters is that no matter what storms come your way, you two will always choose to find your way back into each other’s arms." She paused, tapping my hand affectionately. "No matter what anyone says, you have each other—and that is more than enough."
"I’m just afraid... what if we let our past affect our future?" I blurted out, the deepest fear in my heart finally tearing free. "What if we unconsciously repeat the mistakes of our families? What if we become like our fathers and end up putting that same pain onto our child? I don’t want that kind of life for our baby, and I..."
"And you won’t, Kayden," Gabriella interrupted firmly but with infinite sweetness, resting a comforting hand over my shoulder. "You are not Kelvin Hamilton, and Rhys is not Rami Calder. You are two people who have broken every cycle forced upon you. I have seen the way you two look at each other—the absolute devotion, the quiet respect, and the unconditional love that anchors you both. A child born into that kind of love will never suffer the way you did. You are going to be extraordinary parents."
Listening to Rhoda and Gabriella’s quiet, steady wisdom, the heavy pressure that had been squeezing my chest for hours finally began to dissolve. The tight knot in my throat loosened, and a wave of pure relief washed over me.
"Thank you," I breathed out, my voice thick with emotion as I looked between them. "Thank you both so much."
"We will always be here for you, son," they replied in harmony, giving my hands a firm, reassuring squeeze.
Leo suddenly stood up from the couch, clapping his hands together loudly to break the heavy emotional air.
A brilliant, proud smile spread across his face as he pointed at me.
"Look at you, Kayden Vale," Leo said softly, his playful tone softening into rare, raw sincerity. "I am so ridiculously proud of you. You built the exact life you always dreamed of. You have it all—a legendary hockey career, a partner who adores the ground you walk on, and a beautiful baby on the way. Do you remember when we sat down years ago and wrote out our crazy little wish lists? Who would have ever believed that every single line on that paper would actually come true?"
A soft chuckle bubbled up from my throat. I lowered my head as a warm, overwhelming wave of emotion swept through my body.
My eyes stung, and a lump formed in my throat, forcing me to blink rapidly to keep the tears from ruining my makeup. Today was my wedding day, and I wanted to see every single second of it clearly.
I lifted my head, catching my reflection in the mirror one last time. The fear was gone, replaced by a deep, immovable certainty.
"I’m ready," I announced, a bright, radiant smile breaking across my face. "I’m ready to go get married."
Soren beamed, stepping forward to pick up the stunning bridal bouquet of soft white roses and deep blue orchids, handing it gently into my hands.
"Congratulations," Soren said softly, his eyes sparkling. "To the world’s most beautiful groom!"
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